Al-ʿālim (“knowing”) is a derived predicate applied to the essence, while al-ʿilm (“knowledge”) names the attribute itself. Their grammatical and conceptual roles differ.
In “God is knowing,” “knowing” is predicated of the one essence. Declaring the attribute “knowledge” to be identical with the essence or a separate substance is a further claim. The text therefore warns that what is true of predicates like “knowing” and “powerful” does not automatically transfer to the attributes “knowledge” and “power.”
A clear distinction among subject, attribute, and derived description prevents invalid inferences from otherwise useful examples of predication.